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Determined Heat plays game on southside field

Photos by Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Players from the 14u Savannah Heat hang out in the dugout at Grayson Stadium on Saturday.

Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News The 14u Savannah Heat pose for a photo on the field at Historic Grayson Stadium Saturday during the annual Savannah Sand Gnats Fan Fest. The Heat were scheduled to play the Yellow jackets but the game was postponed due to field conditions.

Savannah Sand Gnats mascot, Gnate, adjusts the cap of a young fan on Saturday during Fan Fest at Grayson Stadium.

A rainy night created a soggy field at historic Grayson Stadium, postponing the Savannah Heat youth baseball game that was planned in conjunction with the Sand Gnats Fan Fest to honor the late Adam Newman Jr.

But the players and coaches were itching to get on the field for their first game of the year, so they changed plans and decided to haul their gear out to the southside, where they played at the Paulson Softball complex against the Yellow Jackets.

Also, they had some extra incentive. The game was set up to remember Newman, a former Savannah resident who suffered from cerebral palsy. He was adopted as a member of the Savannah Heat as a youngster when the team was coached by Kevin Browning. Newman died at age 15 in a tragic drowning accident in 2008.

“The kids were disappointed we didn’t get to play at Grayson today, but the weather is outside our control,” said Karen Newman, the mother of Adam Jr., whose husband, Adam, now coaches the Heat with son Kole playing for the team.

“The Sand Gnats said we could reschedule the game, but we didn’t want to waste the day. The kids wanted to get on the field and have some fun.”

Browning umpired the bases during the game at Paulson, which the Heat won 14-4.

Kole, Adam’s younger brother, is approaching 6-feet tall and is a key member of the Heat 14-Under squad.

“It’s an honor to play in this game because my brother was so special,” Kole said. “The Heat picked him up to be part of the team. This year we want to go to state and win it.”

The Sand Gnats Fan Fest went on as well despite the inclement weather, as fans visited with Gnate the Gnat, the team mascot, and toured Grayson stadium.

The Heat parents wished the game could have been played in front of a good crowd.

“We had a couple hundred people that came out to Grayson, everyone was so supportive,” Karen Newman said. “We’re looking forward to playing this game every year. We’re developing a good relationship with the Sand Gnats, which is great for youth baseball in Savannah. Someday the kids who play in this game might end up playing for the Sand Gnats and the Mets.”